ANTONIA MERCORELLA – Chief Executive Officer REIQ, Keynote Speaker
With the knowledge you expect from a lawyer and the sense of humour you wish your lawyer had, Antonia Mercorella knows a thing or two about real estate. For the last 16 years, she’s headed up legal counsel for the industry’s peak bodies in South Australia and later in Queensland, where she’s also served as Chief Executive Officer for the last six years. As the Real Estate Institute of Queensland’s (REIQ) first female CEO, and its youngest, Antonia has transformed the 103-year-old Institute into one of most progressive and high-profile industry associations in Australia.
Over a 20-year legal and executive management career, Antonia has led and shaped some of the most significant real estate legislative reforms across multiple jurisdictions while her ability to lead and develop advocacy programs has drawn national and international
attention. In fact, Antonia’s negotiation and stakeholder management skills are legendary and her counsel is often sought to build effective advocacy programs and improve government-related negotiations. Antonia credits her training in alternative dispute resolution as the foundation of her effective communication and negotiation skills. In 1997, Antonia studied at the University of Oregon School of Law in the USA and where she also interned for Sid Lezak, the longest-serving U.S Attorney in Oregon’s history. This experience had a deep impact and was the impetus for Antonia’s interest and passion in the art of negotiation.Â
Antonia’s presentation skills and expertise has led to her becoming regularly featured in all forms of mass media across Queensland and Australia. With a background in theatre and performance combined with executive management and the law, Antonia is a highly engaging and powerful speaker who is also highly sought after. She’s developed and delivered presentations on leadership, networking, negotiation and effective stakeholder relations.
